WARREN Bentley struck a hat-trick as Winchester City romped to a second successive six-goal victory in the Sydenhams Wessex League top flight.

Bentley took his league tally to 34 goals for the season with a triple as second placed City caned relegation-threatened Fareham Town 6-1 at Cams Alder, writes MIKE VIMPANY.

But Fareham had clung to their surprise lead for 43 minutes before a penalty and subsequent sending off reshaped their top v bottom encounter.

The turning point of what was already a rather tilted ‘attack v defence’ affair in the gusty wind came when inexperienced Fareham central defender Matt Page was shown a straight red card for a foul which denied Charlie Smeeton an opportunity to level.

Winchester, becoming increasingly frustrated, duly equalised from the spot with the first of Bentley’s hat-trick and went on rack up a second consecutive six-goal victory following a 6-0 win at Bournemouth a week earlier.

The result maintained the four-point gap between City and title favourites Petersfield Town, who have a game in hand.

Status quo also remains at the bottom, where Fareham stay one point adrift of Christchurch and two ahead of Totton & Eling, who lost 3-0 to Hamworthy.

Fareham couldn’t have wished for a better start than the early goal by Bradley Norton which gave them a shock lead.

The one-time South Downs Colleges striker, who buzzed about in midfield, arrowed a fantastic 40-yard free kick into Gareth Barfoot’s top right-hand corner.

Inspired by their wonder goal, Fareham fought for all they were worth after that, constantly frustrating a Winchester side mounting wave upon wave of attacks.

It looked as though Fareham might see the first half out unscathed, but then came Page’s foul on Smeeton and Winchester were on their way.

“I’ve got no complaints about the penalty or the sending off, but that moment, coming just before half-time, killed us,” reflected Fareham boss Matt Parr.

“We’d set our stall and were defending well.

“Winchester were panicking and growing increasingly frustrated, but that moment dictated the course the game would take.

“Our boys put in a terrific shift and each and everyone did everything we asked of them.

“Down to ten men, we didn’t get the rub of the green after the break. Their third goal was a clear handball.”

It was one-way traffic throughout the second half and once Winchester got their noses in front nine minutes into the period there was only one likely outcome.

Ironically Fareham, who had defended so gallantly, left Bentley unmarked from Smeeton’s cross and City’s top scorer glanced a header wide of goalkeeper Nick O’Donnell.

A controversial Winchester third goal effectively killed Fareham off – the Town defenders appealing in vain for handball as Bentley fired his hat-trick goal.

According to City’s Facebook page, Bentley now has 50 goals in all competitions in 2014/15 – but the FA’s full-time website has him at 49 league and cup strikes.

As Fareham legs tired, Winchester doubled their tally in the closing stages – Liam Robinson scoring twice either side of a fifth goal by Stuart Green.

“To be fair to Fareham, they set up with five at the back and left one up front and we found it hard to break them down,” admitted City boss Paul Masters.

“But I knew as the game wore on our lads would keep the ball moving and they’d get tired.

“We just needed to keep moving the ball and pass it about – and that’s what we did.”